Voter Guide 2001: Finishing job of upgrading Portola Valley schools Voter Guide 2001: Finishing job of upgrading Portola Valley schools (October 24, 2001)

By Marjorie Mader
Almanac Staff Writer

Portola Valley School District's $6 million bond measure is designed to restore projects put on hold when skyrocketing construction costs forced the district to scale back its plans 15 months ago to modernize and upgrade Corte Madera and Ormondale schools.

Passage of Measure J _ the bond measure on the November 6 ballot _ would raise funds to complete the work originally envisioned as part of the $17 million bond measure approved by voters in June 1998.

The big-ticket projects put on hold at the Corte Madera middle school were a new science building and the renovation and an addition to the multi-use room. The addition would provide three classrooms for art, music and the performing arts.

The bond funds also would pay for renovating the existing science wing at Corte Madera and converting this building to three classrooms. At Ormondale, a K-3 school, a covered walkway would complement the architecture of the new administration building.

Other projects include retrofitting the schools to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, installing computer connections and technology access in classrooms, making safety improvements and renovating the sports fields.

The targeted completion date would be fall 2002.

This final stage of modernizing Portola Valley's schools, built 40 years ago, would cost homeowners an estimated $7.74 per year for each $100,000 of their property's assessed value _ not the market value _ over the 30-year life of the bonds.

The assessed value of the "average home" in the district is $400,00. In addition to the town of Portola Valley, the district includes a portion of Woodside and unincorporated areas along Skyline and in Los Trancos Woods and Vista Verde. The owner of this "average home" would pay about $31 each year toward retiring the bonds.

Fifty-five percent of voters must approve the measure for it to pass.

Measure J has wide support in the district because the community values education, say Kathleen Carr and Maryann Derwin, co-chairs of the bond campaign committee.

The only formal opposition is led by John J. "Jack" Hickey of Redwood City, chair of the Libertarian Party of San Mateo County, a perennial, unsuccessful candidate for public office, who opposes all tax measures.

The big challenge for the campaign committee is to make sure Measure J supporters get out and vote November 6. The committee is concentrating on reaching voters through a phone bank and by letters directed to groups such as senior citizens, preschool families, alumni and neighbors.

The committee also is encouraging residents to apply for absentee ballots up until Wednesday, October 30. Absentee ballots must be returned to the county elections office no later than 8 p.m. on election day.

Working on the campaign as coordinators in charge of specific areas are Jill Howard and Nancy Shott, volunteers; Carrie Dolezalek, mailings; Linda Benevento and Susan Evans, phone bank; Sandy Boyce, database; and Bonnie Sterngold, absentee ballots. Kevin Ford, who served as treasurer of the 1998 bond campaign, is the campaign treasurer.

Campaign co-chairs Ms. Derwin and Ms. Carr say they can use more volunteers to staff phone banks and get out the vote November 6. People may call Nancy Shott at 851-3286 or Jill Howard at 529-1287 to sign on.